Friction driving-clutch.



110.000,004. j PATENTED PEB. 25, 1900.

A.'R. Lagoon. PRICTION DRIVING'GLUToH.

. APPLICATION FILED APB. 11,1997.

...un-lilla.'

AXEL LE MOON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FBICTION DRIVING-CLUTCH.

To all whom it may concern: Y .Be it known that I, AXEL R. LE MOON, a

citizen of the United States of America," and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, .have invented certain new .and-

useful` Improvements in Friction Driving- Clutches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The main object of this invention is .to provide a simple, efficient and improved form of driving clutch particularly adaptedv for use in connecting t e-driving whee s of Amotor driven vvehicles with their driving shafts, being so arranged as to transmit the full power of the driving shaft to its Wheels and at the same time permit either of the wheels to freily rotate at a speed in excess of that of the driving axle when driven in either Ament is slippery and also to c'omp'ensatefor .any difference inthe diameter'of the wheels re resents the hub of one of the driving members to secure them in driving relation` direction and thereby prevent skidding of .the vehicle. in' turning corners when vthe pavedueto a difference in vthe inflation of thetires .or'the distributionof the load. thereon, and thereby insure. that thevehicle follows a true 'bfr the course. This object isaccomplished device shown in the accompanying awings, vin which A 'Figure 1 is an elevation of a driving clutch constructed according to this invention.

vFigj2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 3 is a detail showing the tension spring.

connection betweenadjacent driving shoes. In the drawings, idesgnates the rear or driving aXle of a motor driven vehicle and 5 w eels.' The wheel ,is loosely journale upon the part 6 of the axle and is 'retained' thereon by means of the usual lock vnut 7. In theform shown, the clutch comprises a drivingmember 8 'rigidly mounted on the axle 4, a. driven member 9 rigidly mounted on' the. hub of the wheel and a'series of segl"Iii'ental fshoes 10 interosed between thee driven member -9 driving member 8 and t and adapted to become wedged between said to each other. The driven member 9 is preferably cup-shaped as shown. in the drawings and comprises a disk or plate l11 which is- -.rigidl`y'bolted to the hub 5 of the wheel and a 'flange having an inner annular friction surf ace 12,l The friction surface 12 .is preferably lindrical and the driven member is open onv c t 'e'sideftoward the vehicle body'so that the wheel may-be readilyrenioved.

Specifcationbf Letters Patent, ippucaoniiled'iprii 111.1907. .serai No. asf/.646

Patented Feb. 26, 1908.

The driving member 8 has thereon a series of projections, referably in the orm`f of radially dispose( forked armswithin which anti-friction rollers' 13 are journaled on axes -substantially'parallel vwith and equally dis'- tant-from the shaft 4*. The outer surface of each of thesho'eslO is of cylindrical curvature and fits theinner friction surface-Bof the driven-member. 9. f -The shoes 1 0 are preferablyof T-'shaped transverse section so asto present a' broad surface to4 thefriction surface 12and to provide a stiffening web, somewhat narrower than the =rim vof the sho e. -The inner surface of th e web 1 4 com-A prises two concave -camsurfaces' 15 respectively located adjacent. to opposite ends of the shoe. These concave surfaces corre-` i spond in angular spacing'with the vangular spacing of the anti-friction rollers 13 on the .member 8, therebeing two vfriction rollers on said member. for each shoe 1.0.v The surfaces 15 'are 'preferably of-circular curvature, of less vvdiarr'ieter than the pat-h described by the outermost point ofthe roller- 13 in its. rotation around the axis of ,the-shaft 4, and

each of'the surfaces 1'5 is eccentric with respect' tothe axis 4 and so disposed that its correspondin urged towar 4.the friction surface 12C when end of fits shoe 10 will bel the' member 8 is rotated about. its axis in eitherdirection with respect lto the shoe .10.'

vThe two anti-friction rollers which engage each shoe therefore' tend y'to cause boththe r middle and one-end of the shoe to be simul-.

taneouslyforced. outward against the friction surface 12, thus insuring much more rapid action than' would'befthe case if there were but one such cam surface on each shoe. l

This permits of greater clearance between' the'shoe and the driven ,member whennot in driving contact. with each other with a. minimum amount ofllost motion between the driving and driven members. The opposite l.ends ofadjacent shoe seg# ments are connected `together by tension' springs 16, asshown in Fig. These tend to 'urge the shoes normally inward and out;

of contact with'they friction surface 1 2. The springs 16 are preferably short helical springs seated in grooves in the periphery of the shoes 1 0 and having their opposite ends'secured to' adjacent;shoes.

-The member 8 preferably` has a conical bore tting the'conical part .17 of the shaft- 4 and 'is secured against rotation by -means cfa key18.. The member 8 isorced-home -f-.the ready removal'ofthemember'f8- enthe'vehicle is at re'stanclalso-correaft isj'started; theginertiaefl-the;shoes 1.0v tends to `hold them s'tajtionarly aces- 15,

rollers-1 3 opposite the :middle ,'"o'intsl of= .the

cam v's'uriaces .15 andpermits t espiin'gsllf towitlidraw theshoes 1 0 romfrictional en- 'agement-with-th'e -axis 12,` leaving'the Wheel f ee fto lrotate independently f lthevaxis 4," The twoantiefriction' rollers which are-in' engagement with each shoeza't this time in sure that .the shoe is' properly supported" s 'o asv-to prevent its accidental tilting :anda corresponding 'tendency to v resist the' free rotation of'ithe Wheel@ As soonfasthe- Wheel .lags to the 'slightestdegree behind 'the :ingu-f..

lar speed of theshait 4, the' l rollers: V 13 in- 'stant again into gripping Contact with thesurfacei 12.; The friction' between therellers and .the surfaces. 1-5 is'so little that the'y clutch" f instantlycompensates for? changes oispeed',

- releasing engagement between the fand driven members when 'the d 'riven'mem` `berv tends to'exceedthe speed ofthe drivingf member and rengaging such member'sgwhen the driven member tends l'to lag;

' What I claimras my invention andy-desire' .along the'cam surfaces 5'v andj` wedge thefrictin shcesj'into driving v"contact with fthe- A snrface l2: .regarde vlessicf the 'direction-of rotation.- f l. the Shatjj j 4'.; rifrhe' rotation@ theshaft 45 is reversed ,1' 'theffricticnal '-en'g'agment'fbetw'een tlgefsur;. face' 12 'and 'the shoesil() together with the.

inertia .efsaid {s h'oes' 'tends to, cause thexnjrto continue `toftra' velgniith4` lthe'gwheel .1 and the 'friction rollers f 1 3, accordingly"instantly Aen "y gage thefppositesides 'of the,ri'ztio'ni surl y 'for any cause7 "such as,' pass1 ngfj around.'v a.' coifn'enl unequal inil'ajtion' of; 4the tire`s,' uneven 'dfist'ributin of, "l'o'ald' v"betweenl the road 'bed-,f the wheelitends to 'travel faster 'than-itis drive'nfbythe shaft, the shoes 10 will tend to be"carried'a1ong -Withthe Wheell f butffsuch movementbringsA thei anti-'friction B5 yftravel 'toward the corresponding side of the cam surfaces 15 and Wedge thes'hio'es y sereine 'dierent jangularfpositionsgvfth ies ect" to the axis' of L'saidmembers, one of-` saiv 'memangularly'fspaced-'With respect to lsaid correspond with vthe 'angu ar spacin of said :cam surfaces',y said cam-'surfaces jan `prjecions being ladapted-to'urge said' shoe toward '.'said- 'driven member throughthe relative rotate jabiit the'j same axis, a 'friction shoeg loosely mountedbetween said members an d having thereon-two;camjsurfaceslocated in 'f different angular po'stins with lrespect t0 the; axis fof said members, .one of Sai bers having; thel're'on"'a pair of 'projections corxfespen d v'viiith'lrthe" angular' spacing off said r fcamsurfaces; lsaid 'ca nSurfaces being 'exactly alike'v and beingfsimilarly'fdis os'ed with re-f; spectt'o saidf'axisfand tothea jacentsurface axis" `and' 'adapted tof 'coact .with said cam' .shoeand-drivingmembenf 'having anA inner,annularfriction srface, 'a

surfadestc urge 'said shoe to'iva'rd saiddriven' 'member through-the' Arelative rotationof 'said driving" member 'j'ournaled jconcentrically ,Within said driven member and havingthere--4 on-a pair -of projections .angularl'ylv spf a ced i withsrespectto the faxisof said members; ai.

Jriction 'sh'oe'having its' outerv peri' hery shapedto'fit'said friction-surface of s'ai ldriv-` en member andfhaving a pair of concave cern surfaceson-lts inner surface spaced angularlyf' said projections, said camsurfaces'.and` pro# rotation' of V'saidv drivingI member in either direction lwith respect to'said shoeand means inorm allyT urging said shoe 'out of engagement tactI with .said-friction "Surface through the 4..f-Thecomb` ation of adrivenmember.

having 'an 'internal annular frictionsurface ya ldriving member journalfedconcentric vmthm` lsald 'friction surfac'e, a

`coact respectivel vv Vair lof entre"V4 friction rollersjournaledonjsai :member onl Y faxes; parallel v with:- the axis of said members andan 'larly's acedfwithres ct vto said` hoe vinterposed' etweena` the 'friction surface onvsaidxrdriven-memberand withj-said .aniai-frictio'ILv 'rollers landfsuit'a ly shapedfto, causeijfsaid; :i shoetnbe-urged-into grippincntsemtn the friction" surface on'.said' ivenfmemberthrough :the rotation of said drivingl memherfiao f ineither d-irection with respect to said shoe,v

and means normally urging said shoeout -of engagement with said friction surface.

'5. -rlhe combination of a driven member having an internal annular friction surface;

y a driving memberjo'u'rnaled concentrically within saidsurface,` an annular series of segmental friction shoes opposed to the frictionl surfaceuon said 'drivenmemben each having an outer surface fitting said friction'surface and having an inner surface comprising la air of4 concave-cam surfaces respectively coated adjacent to 'o posite endsof the shoe;

a plurality of antifiction' rollers, two for l5 each shoe, journaled on-said drivin@ memberand' angularly spaced to correspond with the angularspacing of said caml surfaces, said cam surfaces being soshap'ed as to'cause each of said shoes'to'be, urged into gripping en- 20 giagement with the friction surface on said rlven member through the rotation of said drivingl member in either direction with respect to said series of-sho'es.; and means normally urging said shoes out of such gripping j 2;5N engagement.

v f 6. The combination. of a`driving shaftgf-a wheel-loosely journaled thereonand having rigid thereon an internal annular` Jfriction surface; a driving member rigidly mounted on'said shaft and located withm-saidfriction surface; a. shoe interposed between said friction surface and drivin member, havingl -its outer surface fittingsaid friction 'surface and having its inner surface comprisin a pair of cam surfaces res ectively located a jacenty v to opposite ends o said shoe; a pair of antifriction rollers journaled' on said drivingmember andspaced apartangularly to correspond. withthes acing of said cam-sur? 210 faces; said cam su aces being so formed as vto cause said shoe to be urgedinto contact'- with said friction surface-through,therelative rotation of said driving memberand shoe; and 1 means normally lvurging said shoe' out of engagement with said'friction surfaces. 7..-The-combinaltion ofajdriving axle, 9,

l Wheel loosely journaled thereon, Aan annular flange rigidly secured Vto. said wheel and hav# mg aninternal cylindrical friction surface, a

driving member. rigidly secured to said aXle within'said flange, an'annular series -of segy mental friction shoesinterposed lbetween sald lflange and driving member, Veach,having an louter surface fitting' the friction surface of -said flange. and having an inner surface com'- prising a pair of cam surfaces spaced a art anguiarly toward opposite ends of such s oe, `a' plurality of 'rollersfjournaled on said driv- 1 ing member and angularly spaced tocorrevspond with the spacing of saidcam surfaces,

means normally urging; said friction shoes out of engagement with the friction surface 'of' said fii'ange, and. said shoes and driven member having parts overlapping each-'other and-adatedfto revent the removal of-said shoes -W ile ,sai driving member is-` in lits 'normall position within said flangem.l

SX1-The' combination .ofja -driven axle; a

Wheel loosely journale'd .thereon andhaving an" internal .annular friction surface; 'a mem- T -ber rigid .on said axle 'and' located concentrically inward offsaidv friction surface;` an

annular series of 4friction 'shoesl interposed between said friction surfaceand said mem- .loer, each having an outer surface fitting said `friction surface^ and'each having an-finneri surface comprising -a p'ai' of similar c'am'su-rfaces respectively located-adjacent to o posite ends Aof suchshoe; a luraiity'of ro ers, z two for each shoe, journaed on said driving correspond vwit e yrelative spacing of said cam surfaceswsaid driving memberhaving parts overlapping-said shoes at each side-, 

